‘Smash and grab’ group hits pawn shop

Published 5:33 pm, Monday, March 26, 2012

Pasadena police were called to a report of a theft at a pawn shop at the 1710 block of Shaver.

On March 12, witnesses told police that several suspects entered the Easy Loan pawn shop at approximately 2 p.m.

Police had responded to a ‘panic alarm’ at the business and prior to arrival received a report from another officer that four suspects had entered the business, broke the jewelry cases with hammers and took a substantial amount of jewelry and then fled in a light blue four-door vehicle with tinted windows parked at the north side of the business.

According to witnesses, the vehicle was already occupied by two males as the suspects fled southbound on Shaver. One witness told police she believed the vehicle was possibly a Buick La Crosse.

According to witnesses the four suspects had entered the shop carrying hammers and one suspect acted as a ‘lookout’ by the door. They were described as wearing dark clothing, masks and gloves. Witnesses, including employees and customers present during the incident, had similar descriptions of the incident and of the suspects.

On the business surveillance video, police observed a subject wearing a dark colored hoodie, white shirt underneath, black shoes and blue jeans holding the door open as two others subjects entered also wearing dark hoodies. The first subject closed the door and seconds later, another subject entered the store. The suspects were in the store less than two minutes, according to witnesses.

According to the report, none of the suspects made any verbal or physical threats and were believed to be males, all between 5’6 and 5’9.

The incident was the latest in a string of non-related ‘smash and grab’ incidents reported in Houston, Pasadena police said.

Pasadena police are asking anyone with information about this incident or suspects to call the Pasadena Police Department at 713-475-1221 and/or Houston Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.